Do you love the feeling of laying down on freshly washed bed sheets? Spring cleaning can make your whole home feel fresh and pristine. In today’s blog, our furniture experts cover how to clean your furniture the right way, including some spring cleaning tips that will keep your home looking immaculate all year long.
How to Clean Leather Furniture
(Pictured Above: Leland Leather Sofa)
For people with kids and pets, leather furniture can provide some much-needed durability, but accidents still happen. Here’s how to clean your leather furniture the right way.
Get Rid of Debris
While leather furniture doesn’t trap fur and dust like other types of upholstery, you’ll still need to regularly wipe away debris with a dry cloth or vacuum up any debris using a brush attachment.
Start with Soap & Water
With leather, mild stains don’t usually need anything more than soap and water. You’ll just want to dip a soft washcloth in warm soapy water to blot away stains, careful to use as little moisture as possible.
Be Smart About Tough Stains
While mild soap or a vinegar mixture will work for small stains, you’ll want to do a little research before tackling more problematic stains. Baking soda, for example, is great for grease stains while rubbing alcohol works well with ink stains.
Dry the Leather
Water is no friend to leather, so be sure to dry the area as best you can once you’re finished cleaning.
Apply Conditioner
Once the leather is fully dried, you’ll want to apply a leather conditioner to the entire sofa, recliner, or headboard. This adds a protective coating that prevents cracks and stains while also giving the leather a subtle shine.
How to Clean a Fabric Couch or Chair
(Pictured Above: Eva Sofa)
While cleaning a couch or chair depends on the type of fabric used, we still have some spring cleaning tips and tricks to help you get started.
Vacuum the Couch
Regularly vacuuming the couch with a brush attachment will help remove dust, fur, crumbs, and other debris.
Remove Stains as Soon As Possible
The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to get out. That’s why it’s important to clean any stains immediately.
Check the Cleaning Code on Your Couch
The tag on your couch offers some insight into the best way to keep it clean. “W”, for example, indicates that it’s safe to use water-based cleaners, while “S” means you should only use a solvent to clean the upholstery.
Spot Treat with the Correct Solution
Once you know the best type of solution to clean your couch, you can get started. Before you go too far, though, you’ll want to spot treat a small area to test for any discoloration.
Freshen Up with Baking Soda
Especially if you use your sofa often, it can start to absorb some foul odors. That’s where the baking soda comes in. By sprinkling it over the entire surface of your sofa, you’ll allow the baking soda to start absorbing any unpleasant smells and moisture.
Vacuum Up the Baking Soda
After letting the baking soda sit for a few hours, you should vacuum with the upholstery tool for a second time.
How to Clean Wood Furniture
(Pictured Above: Weatherford II 5-Piece Rectangular Dining Set)
When it comes to cleaning wood furniture, there’s routine cleaning and deep cleaning. These spring cleaning tips for wood furniture will help you keep your furniture clean without damaging the wood.
Clean Away Spills Immediately
Paper towels or soft cloths should be used to blot away liquid spills and condensation from beverages immediately. In the event you’ve spilled something sticky, you’ll want to dip a soft cloth in plain water, wring until it’s only slightly damp, wipe away the mess, and use a dry microfiber cloth to dry away any remaining moisture.
Don’t Forget to Dust Regularly
Because dust and other debris can lead to scratches, it’s important to dust your wood furniture often—at least once a month. To dust, take a microfiber cloth or a disposable electrostatic duster and wipe the legs, arms, surface, and any smaller wood supports thoroughly.
Wash Away Grime
Even if you regularly care for your wood furniture, grime can build up and cause the appearance of your wood furniture to deteriorate over time. Simply mix a solution of dishwashing liquid and water, wring out the excess water, and wipe with a soft cloth or sponge, drying immediately to wipe away common grime.
How to Deep Clean Wood Furniture & Remove Stains
(Pictured Above: London Loft King Bed)
If you’re dealing with a lot of grime, a waxy buildup, or stains, you may need to deep clean your wood furniture.
Try Black Tea
Tea isn’t just for drinking! It can also help cut through the waxy build-up that can accumulate on wood furniture. Just brew two cups of black tea, let the tea cool, dip a soft cloth in the tea, wring out thoroughly, and gently wipe the furniture. For best results, you’ll want to wipe with the wood grain. Before dipping back into the tea, you’ll want to rinse off the grime from the cloth in plain water. Repeat as necessary, drying each area after you wipe it down.
Use Mineral Spirits
If the waxy buildup survives the black tea cleaning or if your wood furniture is starting to look dull and murky, you may need to clean the furniture with mineral spirits from your local hardware store. Because mineral spirits are toxic, you’ll want to wear protective gloves and gear when using it, make sure there’s proper ventilation, and keep any kids or pets out of the area. Simply place a small amount of mineral spirits on an old rag and wipe with the wood grain, rotate the rag as grime accumulates, and finish by buffing the wood with a soft, dry cloth.
How to Clean a Mattress
(Pictured Above: Tempur-Luxe Adapt Firm Mattress)
While you’re likely washing your bedding regularly, it can be easy to forget to clean your mattress. But regularly cleaning and rotating your mattress can help it last longer. That’s why you should make sure you include your mattress on your spring-cleaning checklist. Here’s how to clean a mattress the right way.
Wash the Bedding
You’ll have to strip your mattress to start cleaning, so use the opportunity to wash all your bedding in hot water to get rid of any dust mites.
Vacuum Your Mattress & Pillows
Use the upholstery tool to thoroughly vacuum the entire surface of the mattress and your pillows. If there are any hard-to-reach seams, use the crevice attachment to get any hidden dirt or dust. You should also use this opportunity to vacuum your upholstered headboard if you have one.
Spot Clean Any Stains
Especially if you have a memory foam mattress, you don’t want the mattress to get wet, which can make stain removal a bit tricky. If you’re looking to clean biological stains like blood, sweat, vomit, or urine, you’ll likely want to use an enzyme cleaner, while a dish soap and water solution should work for other types of stains. Simply douse a clean cloth with your cleaning solution and blot the stained area. Be conservative about the amount of cleaner and water you use and make sure not to cover the mattress until it’s completely dried.
Freshen Up with Baking Soda
Once any mattress stains have been removed, sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the mattress and let it sit for several hours, keeping in mind that the longer the baking soda stays on the mattress, the more it will break down acid and absorb the remaining moisture and odor. For best results, you should open the windows to let light and fresh air in. In fact, UV rays from the sun can naturally kill mold and other types of bacteria that are commonly found on mattresses.
Vacuum Up the Baking Soda
Once the baking soda has had a chance to work, you should thoroughly vacuum it up from this side of the mattress.
Flip the Mattress & Repeat
You probably already know that innerspring mattresses should be flipped every 3 months, while many pillowtop and memory foam mattresses only need to be rotated 180 degrees every few months. Regardless of how often you’re flipping your mattress, you’ll want to repeat the above steps on the other side of your mattress as well.
How to Clean a Marble Table
(Pictured Above: Chelsea Marble top Tables)
Whether you have a marble dining table, coffee table, side table, or countertop, these spring cleaning tips will help make sure you clean it properly, so you don’t damage or dull the material.
Immediately Blot Up Spills
Because marble can stain, you’ll want to immediately wipe up any spills, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus. To prevent spreading the spill further, try to blot out the spill and then wash the area with soapy water.
Dust Regularly
Don’t let dust and debris gather on your marble, as this can lead to scratches. Make sure to dust weekly using a microfiber cloth, feather duster, or a disposable electrostatic duster.
Start with Soap and Water
When it comes to marble, you want your cleanings to be as gentle as possible. After dusting, wash the marble with a soft cloth dampened with a water and dish soap solution, careful not to press too hard. Never use abrasive cleaners, rough sponges, vinegar, Windex, bleach, or other acidic cleaners on your marble.
How to Clean Glass Tables
(Pictured Above: Gamma 5-Piece Counter Height Dining Set)
Glass tables look great, especially if you’re trying to create the illusion of space in a small room. But they are prone to fingerprints and smudges. Here’s how to clean a glass table the right way.
Use Plastic for Sticky Substances
Sticky substances can cling to glass tables. Gently scraping them off with a credit card or plastic spoon can help get rid of the substance without scratching the table.
Wipe Away Smudges with Glass Cleaner
Specialized glass cleaner is your best bet for removing fingerprints, smudges, and other debris without creating unattractive streaking. For best results, use a soft microfiber cloth or a crumpled piece of newspaper with the cleaner for a streak-free shine.
Additional Spring-Cleaning Tips & Tricks
- Always clean from top to bottom. If, for example, you dust your ceiling fan after vacuuming your bed, you’ll end up having to vacuum again.
- Pull furniture away from the walls so you can vacuum and mop under them. This will help you get rid of dust, pet dander, crumbs, and other debris from hard-to-reach spots.
- Don’t forget to remove cushions from your chairs and sofas so that you can vacuum up all the crumbs, dust, and other debris that falls between the cracks.
- Decorative pillows can be a breeding ground for dust mites. Not only should you be regularly vacuuming your throw pillows, but, if possible, you should try tossing them in a hot dryer or placing them in the hot sun for the day to kill dust mites.
- Don’t neglect your lamps. Not only can you clean the fixture after unplugging and removing the lightbulb, but you should also vacuum the lampshade and/or use a lint brush to remove dust and debris from the shade.
Spring isn’t just about learning how to clean your furniture the right way. It’s also the perfect time to update your living room, dining room, bedroom, or home office furniture. In the meantime, check out our furniture blog where we cover everything from how to break in a new mattress to our guide to natural materials in furniture.